The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-01-18
LONG. HEALTHFUL LIFE
A Case of Longevity in the Six
teenth Century.
Lewis Cornaro, an Italian Centenarian,
who UnfoIded His Secret Of Health and
EnIoyment-Be Temperate i'm All
Things, Useful and Cheerful.

Luigi Cornaro was descended from
an illustrious family of Venice, where
he was born about the year 1863. Ow-
ing to some political misfortune in the
family he was debarred from all right
to share any public honor, or in any
employment of the republic. He mar
ried one Veronica, of the family OF
Spilembergs. at Undine, a city OF FIrul,
by whom he had daughter. Clara
This daughter married gentleman OF
fortune, having large possessions in the
island of Cyprus, by whom she had
eleven children, of which Cornaro
speaks with much pleasure and delight.
Chagrined at being excluded from any
participation in public affairs, he re-
tired to Padua, where he had consider
able estate, and resided there the re-
mainder of his life.
He tells us, in little book which he
wrote when nearly hundred years
old. that he was formerly of hot,
choleric disposition, and that his con-
stitution, naturally delicate, became
after a while in such deplOrable condi-
ton from his excuses that, before at
tanning the age of forty, his physicians
announced to him that unless he COM
pletely revolutionized his mode of life
his DAYS would soon come to an end.
Upon desiring them to inform him eX-
actly what course he must pursue they
replied THAT he must always manage
himself as a sick person, eat nothing
but what was good, and that III small
ouantity.n He had sense enough to
heed the simple prescription; or, as he
expressed it: Il thought it disgrace
not to have courage enough to be wise.
He began at once TO head sober life,
and bV degrees accustomed himself so
much'to the habit of being temperate
in all things that at the end of year he
found himself much recovered in health
and free from the pains of indigestion,
fever. govt and other ills which had
afflicted him. Elated with his success
he became enamored with the enjoy
ments of health, and thereafter followed
with care and assiduity the habits of ar
abstemious as well as sober, right
eous and godly life.
The rules which he practiced and
offered for the guidance of others were
First, in taking care of the quality, 81
a. to eat and drink nothing which
would offend the stomach; secondly, il
the quantity. so that no more SHOULD
be eaten than could be easily digested
1t was also Cornaro's theory and prac
tice that, as we advance in years ant
our powers naturally weaken, W,
should not tax or overburden them b,
efforts to create strength which tn
constitution was not capable OF produc
ing. He therefore limited himsel
gradually to that quantity of foot
which he deemed proper to sustain
life, so that at the last the yelk OF al
egg often sufficed for a single meal
Health under this regime became
pleasant hobby with him, Snd certainl
served to make his life happy, usefu
and long. This extreme abstemiOus
ness, though successful in his, Nigh
not be so in every case, therefore b.
advised each TO study his own cOnsti
tuition and adjust himself accordingly
but that temperance in all things is tn
one thing requisite. When nearl
eighty he Welded TO the arguments G
his friends, that his constitution re
quired more nourishment than b,
allowed himself, and was induced E
try the experiment. 1t had liked t
have proved fatal. NOTWITHSTANDING
the increase was very small. in twelv
days. from a state of perfect health, b
was attacked with collie, sleeplessnes'
and finally thrown into a fever froI
which he hardly recovered.
Not only in his diet W as Cornar
particular, but he used other mean
conducive to health. He avoided q
far as possible exposure to the weather
abstained from all violent exercise
and late hours. One other impOrtaI
habit which he adopted was. he say
mot to abandon myself to melanchol
by banishing out of my mind whateve
might occasion it." He also offers I'll
true argument that a temperate lii
fortifies the constitution TO witt
stand the exposures TO the IL
and accidents of life, and cites ii
occasion, when he was seventy yea
of age, of being overturned in his ca
rage and dragged considerable di
lance. He relates that .'They took n
out of the coach with my leg broker
leg and arm out of joint, and, in
word, in a very lamentable condition
They sent for the physician, who e
pected could not live three days to &
end. However, they resolved upon Il
letting of blood to prevent the comir
of fever, as often happens in such case
was so confident that the regular Ii
which had led had prevented the CO